Lawrence William "Larry" Benne 1931 - 2021

BENNE, LORENZEN, FRERICHS, JENSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/19/2021 at 09:34:54

Sioux City Journal
4 April 2021

Omaha, formerly Sioux City.

Lawrence William "Larry" Benne, 90, of Omaha, formerly Sioux City, passed on March 15, 2021 in Omaha.

Larry's ashes will be buried at a later date in Logan Cemetery at Sioux City.

Larry was born on Feb. 19, 1931, near West Point, Neb., on his family farm to Wilma (Lorenzen) and Lawrence Benne Sr. As a boy, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and helping his father with farming. These activities continued throughout his adult life and he spent many wonderful times with his younger brothers-in-law, friends and family pursuing these hobbies.

Larry went to country school near West Point. He graduated from high school in 1948 with certification to teach elementary school as he pursued normal school training for that goal. At that time, this two-year certification enabled him to be a teacher with the promise of completing his four-year college degree.

He graduated from Wayne State College (then Nebraska State Teachers College at Wayne) in 1959, studying primarily in evening and summer school. He later earned advanced degrees at UNC at Greeley, Colo.

In 1957, he came to Sioux City to fill a teaching position at Hopkins School. In these early days, he met Carolyn Frerichs from Hartington. They fell in love, married in 1960 and raised two sons, Steve and Paul. Carolyn died in 1980, but Larry's tremendous love for her entire Frerichs family lasted his lifetime.

In 1982, he fell in love with and married Vibeke Jensen, a fellow Sioux City educator. To their marriage, a daughter was born, Lise.

In Sioux City, Larry became the elementary science and health curriculum coordinator. He later transferred to what was then AEA 12, as the area science and health consultant.

One of his long-standing passions was the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, which Carolyn founded in 1977 for the study and preservation of the unique geological area that runs along the Missouri River Valley. Larry served as coordinator for the Loess Hills Seminar for many years following Carolyn's death.

He was also passionate about music. He taught accordion lessons, but his joy was the alto saxophone. Playing saxophone with Ed (Eddie) Hanna in the Tommy Bishop Band, he traveled throughout smaller Nebraska communities, as well as Omaha, and played for dances, often returning home to Sioux City in the early mornings.

After he retired from AEA 12, he had many enjoyable years fishing and visiting with friends and family. As a Sioux City Noon Lion member, he served as secretary and with school nurses to provide eye exams for needy students.

Larry is survived by his wife of 39 years, Vibeke Jensen; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Karin Benne of Knoxville, Tenn.; son, Paul Benne and granddaughter, Mae Benne of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and daughter and son-in-law, Lise and Jimm Wagner and grandson, William Wagner of Omaha. He is also survived by his sister, Marcella Droescher; his nephews, Dale and Dave Droescher; and his niece, Dawn Droescher.